Andy Hallman

The wave of rain, sleet and snow that is sweeping across Iowa has complicated the travel plans of many people seeking to visit relatives for Christmas. Washington resident Donna Monger has plans to drive to Pennsylvania this weekend, but she said the weather will dictate whether or not those plans can be executed.    ?We are planning to drive to Pennsylvania on Saturday to visit friends of ours, but that depends on

Public buildings throughout Washington will close their doors for Christmas on Friday. Some will also be closed Thursday, while others will be open only part of the day. The longest vacation is no doubt enjoyed by school children, who will dismiss at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday and not return until Monday, Jan. 4. That applies to all buildings and grade levels, including St. James Catholic School. School secretaries will

While nearly all public buildings and shops will be closed Christmas Day, there will be a select few public servants who?ll go to work Friday just like any other day of the week. Police officers, deputies, dispatchers and firefighters have to staff their positions or go on patrol to ensure the safety of the city for the holidays.    Not everyone minds the fact that they have to work on Christmas. Michael Powers, a

No one wants to feel lonely or homesick during the holidays. For soldiers serving thousands of miles from home, those are just the feelings they have to deal with when Christmas time roles around. That is why the Washington County Assessor?s office wants to ensure that service men and women are not forgotten this time of year.    To honor soldiers serving overseas and here at home, the assessor?s office decorates a

The Washington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is seeking to improve the services they offer at the historical log cabin in Sunset Park. Julie Beenblossom, the regent of the Washington chapter, said the DAR wants to purchase period costumes for its volunteers to wear when they?re staffing the cabin. She said the DAR would submit a request to the Riverboat Foundation to purchase costumes and

The Mills Seed Building is one step closer to being remodeled and moved to Iowa Avenue following the Washington City Council?s meeting Wednesday night. The council voted 5-1 to authorize City Administrator Dave Plyman to negotiate with Jeremy Patterson about establishing a TIF district to help finance the project. Council members Bob Shepherd, Fred Stark, Russ Zieglowsky, Karen Wilson-Johnson and Merlin Hagie voted

Iowa farmers saw their annual land values decline for the first time in a decade, according to an annual survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension. The extension?s survey indicated that average land values in the state dropped 2.2 percent, from $4,468 an acre to $4,371, over a 12-month period beginning Nov. 1, 2008.    The average value of farmland in Washington County dropped 2.7 percent in that time,

The Washington City Council will hear a proposal to relocate and remodel the Mills Seed Building at its upcoming meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the former library building. Jeremy Patterson, who runs a house moving service in Washington, will present a plan to the council about his desire to move the building, now located at 604 N. Seventh Ave., to the empty lot on North Iowa Avenue where the Chamber of Commerce

When temperatures dip into the single digits or even lower, as they have in the last two weeks, there are few enviable outdoor jobs. Many workers have to brave the elements on a daily basis no matter the cold, wind or rain. Newspaper carriers are among those who have no choice but to work in whatever conditions Mother Nature gives them.    The Washington Evening Journal employs 20 carriers, and each one of them has

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has recommended closing the mental health institute (MHI) in Mt. Pleasant and moving the services to Independence, a move that would affect mental health patients across southeast Iowa and potentially the 92 people who work there, including one from Washington County.     In May, the Iowa Legislature asked DHS to decide which of the four mental health facilities in the

The blizzard that swept across Iowa last week forced the cancellation of more than just schools and board meetings. The bad weather also prevented scheduled blood drives from taking place in many parts of the state. That is why Washington residents are coming together to increase turnout at the blood drive at the United Presbyterian Church on Thursday from 1-6 p.m.    The Noon Kiwanis club is the organization

Scott Hughes was an unlikely member of the Brighton City Council. Before Hughes was appointed to the council approximately four years ago, city government was not exactly on his radar.    ?I didn?t follow the council before I was appointed to be on it,? said Hughes.    That changed in 2005 when councilman Melvin Rich announced he would be stepping down because work prevented him from making all the meetings.

The Crawfordsville Fire Department recently elected a new slate of officers and more than doubled the number of volunteer firefighters on their force. In November, the department went from having eight volunteer firefighters to 17. Roy Felts, who has been a firefighter in Crawfordsville for the past eight years, became the department?s new fire chief.    Felts was born in Crawfordsville and had visions of being a

It?s that time of year when parents go from store to store in search of a gift to put a smile on their child?s face. One person in Washington has read dozens if not hundreds of Christmas lists over the past few weeks, and that person is Santa Claus. More so than anyone else, Santa is in touch with the desires of today?s youth owing to the long hours he puts in listening to their pleas.    For 10 hours a week, jolly

The vacant F.B. Mills Seed Company Building in Washington may soon have a new tenant, and even a new location. Jeremy Patterson, who runs a house moving service out of Washington, presented a plan to the city council?s finance committee Wednesday night to rehabilitate and relocate the three-story building at 604 N. Seventh Ave.    Patterson said he would like to move the building ? constructed in 1900 ? to the empty